UAM Professor, Family Effected by Haiti Earthquake; UAM Community Gives

Linna Jones

Editor-in-Chief

He did not expect a big event like that could happen in Haiti. From the time he was born until he turned 33-years old, Lesly Jean-Francois, assistant professor of French and Latin, never heard of anything as disastrous as a major earthquake happening in Haiti.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 4:53 p.m. Eastern time just 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. The Daily News reported Jan. 24, the Haiti government confirmed 150,000 people dead, but more may be buried in the rubble.

“I never seen anything disastrous like that and I didn’t expect that.” Francois said “Especially since Haiti is a poor country, I didn’t expect that something could happen like that in Haiti, but Mother Nature does whatever it wants. I was torn.”

He described Haiti as a beautiful country surrounded by mountains and the sea. The North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea touch the coast line of Haiti. He described Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, as being surrounded by mountains. He talked about how some of the Haitian people could live economically, but lived a hard life surviving on a $100 a month.

After learning about the earthquake, Francois and his family tried everyday to contact their relatives who lived in Haiti. The only contact they could make was through the United States Government and they did not reach anyone. Francois said they waited over five days to hear about their family.

“As you can understand, I was waiting to hear about the family and during those five days all you (were) hearing (was) that 100,000 people died, 150,000 people; big number(s) of people are dying,” he said. “You can’t understand how hard that is to hearing that and you can’t hear about your family living in that place.”

Not Knowing

The earthquake in Haiti effected other members of the Francois family differently.

Senior Minerve “Mimi” Jean-Francois, who is earning a double degree in Business Accounting and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Modern Languages, learned of the earthquake soon after coming home from school.

She received the news when her friend from New York called her saying “Did you know Haiti had an earthquake?” Because of the exaggerations, which can be heard on the news, she did not believe the earthquake happened until she watched the news.

She described her reaction to the news like “Oh! It’s just another hurricane, they’re ok.” According to cia.gov, Haiti lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and from June to October can be subject to severe storms.

She started worrying when she saw actual news cast of the event, maps of the affected area and pictures of the event; that was when she started worrying. She said also the fact she was not able to reach her mother, Mirna Nazaire, told her the situation was serious. She talked about how her feelings took it to another level not knowing if her mother survived such a thing, if the children were ok or how her school was doing.

“It didn’t hit me as hard as when I couldn’t reach my mother and I can’t ask her how she is doing,” she said.

She described the waiting as horrible with lots of negative thoughts running through her mind of what happened and what could have possibly happened. She watched the news everyday hoping to see her mother’s face, to see if she was ok, because that was the only way she could see what was going on there and the only way she could see the people.

Waiting for News

News outlets around the world reported on the earthquake in Haiti, alerting the world about the devastation the quake brought with it as the shaking collapsed homes, business and other buildings; buried people in rubble and debris; killed people and made many people homeless. Some of the stories are listed below.

Jan. 13:

BBC News reported at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time, “Haiti devastated by massive earthquake.” They report at 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti Jan. 12. Two aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude followed.
CNN World reported “Haiti appeals for aid; official fears 100,000 dead after earthquake.”

Jan. 14:

The Associated Press reported “Rescuers save trapped U.N. security guard; Search is on for 200 others buried in Haiti rubble; 36 confirmed dead.”
From NBC Sports, the Associated Press reported “Haitian athletes worried after monster quake; Colts' Garcon, boxing champion Berto have families in devastated country.”
The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported “Thousands feared dead in Haiti quake.”

Jan. 15:

The World News section of MSNBC reported “N.C. man, N.J. woman rescued from rubble; they were trapped in ruins of Haiti hotel flattened by earthquake.”

Jan. 16:

The Associated Press reported “Outside Haiti capital, much despair, little aid; Residents arm themselves against looters in town 12 miles from epicenter.”

Jan. 17:

MSNBC.com reported "Rescue crews pull 2 more from Haitian market; 3 others were rescued earlier there; U.N. staffer, hotel co-owner also saved"

They Finally Called Us

After five days, one of Lesly Jean-Francois’ cousins called him with information about the family. Francois said none of his relatives died but some of them were hurt and how the quake destroyed some of their homes.

“(The wait) was devastating, it was extremely emotional (and) it was extremely painful to wait five days to hear if your family was a part of the 200,000 who died, but fortunately when the news came it was relaxing to hear the news that they were alive.”

After receiving communication, they could finally call their family. Their family in Haiti called them from a cyber café, a place available for people to use the internet and make phone calls over the internet.

Francois talked about how they try to help their family without any public help, they give mostly as individuals. They do not try to receive anything from anyone. If someone would be willing to help Haiti, it would be a welcomed jester.

The Wait is Over

Mimi Jean-Francois heard from her mother Jan. 17. She heard that the children were fine, the majority of them OK and how knowing everyone was safe was like a weight was removed from her shoulders.

Nazaire, Mimi’s mother, lives in Carrefour and owned a school a school in the area. The school taught grades from Elementary to 9th grade. Nazaire lived at the school with her three children; one girl and two boys.

Nazaire took in the community to stay on the school’s playground. Mimi said when she sends her mother money, her mother stretches it for everyone, not just her or the family, which is the kind of person she is. Even through the school, Nazaire allowed more than half of the students to come on credit.

“She’s always there to help people however she can,” Mimi said. “Even when she doesn’t have nothing, she’s still making sure everyone around her is OK.”

She said currently no progress has been made for the people who live in Carrefour to receive aid.

Photo by Linna Jones

Helping Out - Sophomore Simone Maddox serves cake while fellow Jewels of Service member, first-year student Towoyonna Smith, talks with a customer at the Jewels of Service's bake sale for Haiti Relief in the University Center Feb. 5.

The UAM Community Helps

Up to three organizations on the University of Arkansas-Monticello campus will hold or have held fundraisers to raise relief funds for Haiti including the Jewels of Service, Alpha Phi Alpha and the Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship.

The Jewels of Service held a bake sale for Haiti Relief Feb. 4 and 5 in the Memorial Classroom Building and the John F. Gibson University Center. They will give the funds they raise directly to Mimi Jean-Francois, a member of the organization, to give to her mother and family in Haiti.

“We are trying to get it there as soon as possible,” said the Jewels of Service President Tiara Jones.

Mimi said the Jewels were the first to think about how they could help her. She continued saying the Jewels were the first to call and see to see how she was doing.

She also received donations from three other organizations and one from a UAM staff member.

“(The organizations) were very helpful. When I get these donations they help me to think that (my mother) is eating.” She said. “When I send her money I know she will find a way of buy food with it. So, I know she is actually eating.”

She talked about the donations eased her mind, so she wouldn’t have to worry about her mother dying of hunger. She will just have to worry about her health.

The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Pi Phi Chapter held a Haitian Relief Party with the proceeds going to help the Haiti relief efforts in the University Center gym Jan. 21. They charged entrance fees of $3 without canned goods and $2 with a canned good item. The funds will go to the National Fraternity to place in an account with other donations from Alpha Phi Alpha chapters. The money will go straight to Haiti.

The Alphas collected $50 from the entrance fees, 20 can food items and 20 non-perishable food items. They plan to match or double the amount collected at the party, but have not decided at this time.

Alpha Phi Alpha President Troy Dillard explained the goal of the fraternity and for raising money for Haiti relief.

“We are a service fraternity and one of our main goals is to uplift humanity,” Dillard said. “As Haiti was struggling, we felt it was our duty to support the relief effort.”

Dillard said the experience of donating taught them the quality of helping humanity as a whole. He described it as an enlightening experience to look past yourself to help the needs of others.

The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will still be accepting money or gift donations for Haiti. For more information, contact Dillard at aphia@uamont.edu.

The MBSF will be hosting a Haiti Relief Dinner for Valentine’s Day Feb. 11. They will host a Valentine’s dinner and movie starting a 7 p.m. The dinner will be $5 per person or donations will be accepted. All the funds will go to the Red Cross to help with the Haiti relief.

Mimi said without the help of others, she would not be able to help her mother and said her family at UAM was effected.

“We all were affected by it, but one thing we learned is how generous people can be and really appreciate everyone’s help and prayers,” she said.